Geography

At St Mary’s we provide interesting and exciting experiences for pupils to engage with both their local area as well as the wider world. Pupils are provided with opportunities to use a range of geographical skills to understand, analyse and communicate information as an individual or working collaboratively. Through CUSP, pupils are encouraged to use a range of investigative and problem-solving skills both inside and outside of the classroom supporting each child to develop a deeper understanding of geography.

Intent

At St Mary’s R.C. Primary School, we intend to provide each pupil a broad and balanced view of the world around them. Through the geography curriculum, students will develop a deeper understanding of their local environment and the diverse surroundings in the wider world, with appreciation to human and physical characteristics.

Geography at St Mary’s aims to engage and inspire as we teach geographical skills through our CUSP geography curriculum.

At St Mary’s R.C. Primary School our geography curriculum will:

• Inspire a curiosity and fascination about the world and its people
• Equip children with an understanding of diverse places, people, resources and environments around them
• Allow children to build on prior learning about physical and human processes and the formation and use of landscapes and environments
• Develop an understanding that the Earth’s features are interconnected and change over time
• Encourage exploration of their own environment
• Use local area and community to develop geographical skills

Implementation

In KS1, pupils develop knowledge about the world, the United Kingdom and their locality. Pupils gain understanding of subject-specific vocabulary and begin to use geographical skills, including first-hand observation, to enhance their geographical awareness.

In KS2, pupils extend their knowledge and understanding beyond the local area to include the United Kingdom and Europe, North and South America. This includes the location and characteristics of a range of the world’s most significant human and physical features. Children further develop their geographical knowledge, understanding and skills to enhance their locational and place knowledge. Pupils utilise ICT to enhance their geography lessons where appropriate, learning cross curricularly.

Within each geography unit, pupils are immersed in subject specific vocabulary – this is further reinforced in other subjects and throughout the year.

Impact

The impact of St Mary’s Geography curriculum is to equip our pupils with the geographical skills and knowledge to enable them to be ready for their further education and for the life as an adult in the wider world. The children will be able to discuss their learning and demonstrate their knowledge and understanding through a range of interesting and exciting lessons and  activities.